The Christiane Nüsslein-Volhard Foundation receives prestigious award
The Foundation, created and named after the Nobel Prize winner, has been awarded Science Foundation of the Year by the German University Foundation (DUS) and the Stifterverband.
The German University Association (DUS) awarded six prizes on Monday 31 March as part of the "Gala of German Science". 300 guests from universities, politics and society took part in the festive event at the Konzerthaus in Berlin. The Science Foundation of the Year is an award of 5000 euros.
Text: Peggy Groß, StifterVerband
Science Foundation of the Year
Professor and Nobel Prize winner Christiane Nüsslein-Volhard also received recognition: her foundation, established in 2004, was honoured as "Science Foundation of the Year" by the German University Foundation and the Donors' Association. The Christiane Nüsslein-Volhard Foundation supports talented women with children in their scientific careers. Nüsslein-Volhard spoke about the daily challenges faced by female scientists in Germany, where persistent biases remain. Foreign scholarship recipients also reported that female researchers are particularly subject to prejudice in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland: "Women still encounter resentment if they ambitiously pursue their careers while raising children." According to the jury, the Christiane Nüsslein-Volhard Foundation sets a benchmark with its work, providing a model for other foundations and donors. The 5,000 euro prize accompanies the award.
Science Foundation of the Year 2025: Christiane Nüsslein-Volhard Foundation (in German)
The CNV Foundation
The CNV Foundation was founded in 2004 by Prof. Dr. Christiane Nüsslein-Volhard. In 1995, the multi-award-winning biologist became the first woman in Germany to receive the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for her groundbreaking discoveries on the genetic control of embryonic development in fruit flies. She conducted research at the Max Planck Institute for Development Biology in Tübingen (now called the Max Planck Institute for Biology Tübingen). Through her foundation, she aims to facilitate the careers of talented women with children in science. The foundation provides monthly grants of 500 euros to alleviate domestic tasks and childcare responsibilities, allowing these young mothers more time for their scientific qualifications and professional development. The CNV Foundation focuses its funding on outstanding doctoral students in experimental natural sciences and medicine conducting research at German universities or research institutions. Over more than 20 years, the foundation has supported approximately 300 scientific talents, providing both financial assistance and networking opportunities.
While balancing family and work is a challenge for all genders, experience indicates that in Germany, more women in science prioritize family over career advancement. Despite gradual social changes, the following trend remains: the higher the position in science, the lower the proportion of women. Nobel laureate Christiane Nüsslein-Volhard seeks to change this. She is dedicated to supporting women in cutting-edge research. As a director at the Max Planck Institute, she supported two group leaders in establishing the first institute kindergarten in Tübingen. With her foundation and the collaboration of prominent colleagues like the current President of the European Research Council, Prof. Dr. Maria Leptin, she continues this pragmatic approach.
"Child and career in science are possible if young mothers are strengthened and supported," stated the award rationale from the DUS and the Stifterverband. "The CNV Foundation prevents talented female scientists from being lost to research due to the dual burden of childcare and career demands. Instead, it provides effective solutions through its support programs. With its exemplary commitment, it sets a standard for other foundations and donors to follow."